By By Adrienne McKenzie
There is one thing in this world that I simply do not comprehend and that thing is pure hatred.
Of course I am referring to the massacre that occurred last Monday at Virginia Tech, responsible for taking 32 innocent lives and the life of the murderer, Seung-Hui Cho.
Students filed back into their classrooms at the university Monday but I am sure their lives are far from "back to normal" and it will take years, if ever, for that to happen.
I know for the family members of the victims of this tragedy, this is something they will never be able to understand or to recover from. Those people need to be in our thoughts and prayers daily.
But, there were people at the university that actually survived the incident and they are more than likely going through as much pain and heartbreak as those family members that lost their loved ones. Just the thought of being so close to death, yet surviving, is traumatic in itself, I would imagine.
I personally cannot envision looking up and seeing a man with two guns shooting at my peers and at myself. I do not know how I would react if something like that happened around here. I do not think any of us would know what to do.
I have tried to think about what could have possibly been running through Cho's head to make him turn into a rampant killer. What could possibly be so wrong in one's life to cause them to go out on a killing spree? Yes, I realize that people have problems and that things go wrong, but why does that make it OK for them to go out and kill those who have done no wrong deed towards them? Clearly it is not acceptable to the average individual who is disgusted at the thought of murder, but in the murderer's mind, killing is an OK thing to do.
I just do not understand it and I suppose I never will. I just know that I pray everyday that nothing like the Virginia Tech tragedy occurs ever again. The massacre is the talk of the nation, even in Atmore, everywhere I go I hear someone talking about the death of the Virginia Tech individuals. Everybody is heartbroken and for what? The lives of the ones he murdered were taken for no reason. He shot them for no reason at all.
I am also praying for the individuals who are suffering through the loss of friends and family members. I have no idea how difficult this time must be for them so the least I can do is keep them in my thoughts. And last, but not least, I'm remembering those who have to go back to the school to continue teaching or taking classes, as this time must be incomprehensibly difficult on them.
I hope that you will also keep these individuals in your thoughts and prayers as this is going to be a long hard road for them.
Adrienne McKenzie is a staff reporter for The Atmore Advance. She can be reached at 368-2123 or via email at lifestyles@atmoreadvance.com